NMSU FOOTBALL: Aggies defense making key stops during win streak

Arkansas State set Sun Belt yardage record vs. Aggies last year

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State’s current three game win streak wouldn’t be possible if not for game-clinching turnovers forced by what appears to be an improving, in not opportunistic defensive unit.

The Aggies defense faces the best offensive football team in the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday when first-place Arkansas State (7-3, 6-0) visits Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Arkansas State gained a Sun Belt Conference record 764 yards of total offense against the Aggies last year in a 68-35 Arkansas State victory in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

“This group that we have is maybe a better group than last year and I know we have a better mindset this year,” said Aggies junior linebacker Rodney Butler, who sealed NMSU’s 37-34 victory last week at Louisiana-Lafayette with a fourth quarter interception. “We are going into this game with a three-game win streak and a lot of confidence.”

The Red Wolves are led by the league’s most dynamic dual threat quarterback in senior Fredi Knighton, who averages 142 yards passing and 43 yards rushing per game.

“(Knighton) is a great quarterback and a great football player who is athletic and fast and he can throw the ball,” Butler said. “We have to make sure we get our depth in our drops and sure we have 11 hats to the ball no matter where it is.”

Arkansas State leads the Sun Belt in scoring with 38.5 points per game and 476.8 total yards per game. Michael Gordon leads Arkansas State with 832 yards rushing but four players have rushed for over 300 yards.

“They spread the ball around,” Vance said. “They have one guy (JD McKissic) with 43 catches and the next guy (Tres Houston) has half as many but he has nine touchdowns. They stress you with speed on the perimeter and unlike a lot of quarterbacks we have played, (Knighton) can throw those intermediate routes.”

But despite the gaudy offensive numbers the Red Wolves are putting up, they also lead the Sun Belt Conference in turnovers. Arkansas State is a SBC best plus-six in turnover margin despite 21 turnovers with nine fumbles and 12 interceptions.

While the Aggies have allowed points and yards, the defense has ended each of the past three games with a game clinching interception. NMSU’s defense has forced 18 turnovers this season with nine interceptions and nine recovered fumbles.

“You generally are what the film says you are so if we run to the ball and play with violence, I hope we can get a few,” Vance said.

Vance said the Aggies’ goal each week is to hold the opponent under 25 points, which has been a standard for top tier Sun Belt defenses in recent years.

The Aggies are still allowing 44.6 points per game, but they held Texas State to 21 points in a 31-21 victory and Louisiana-Lafayette had 20 points entering the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 37-34 victory.

Finishing games late in the season has shown Vance progress for a unit that despite giving up yards and points in abundance, the Aggies are currently capable of closing games after losing two fourth quarter leads in a 50-47 home loss to UTEP on Sept. 19.

“At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to win the game,” Vance said. “They keep hearing the same message and they are seeing that it will come true if we go out and make plays in critical situations. That is what we should have done against UTEP and this whole season could be different.”

In their last two victories, the Aggies held Texas State to 3.1 yards per carry and Lafayette rushed for 190 yards. Both numbers were significantly lower than the season averages of 260.5 yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry.

“After the beginning of the season and those tough losses, it’s just been a long time coming,” Butler said. “It’s always been there but I guess we just needed to kick the door down.”

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.